Hatta
A sheer outer wall and the most reliable hammerhead ground in the group, Oct–Apr. Forty-five to sixty minutes of open boat.
Day by day · 7 days, 6 nights
A week across the Banda Islands
The only length that reliably reaches Run and Hatta. Three days under water, the whole colonial town, both nutmeg islands, and enough spare time that the weather stops being a threat.
- 7D6N
- Days and nights
- 6
- Islands reached
- $450–$650
- Indicative, homestay tier
- 3 water days
- Reef, wall and outer island
- 2 nutmeg islands
- Banda Besar and Run
- 1 volcano
- Gunung Api at 640 m
- 1–2 spare days
- What makes the week work
Indicative as of 2026. Excludes flights to Ambon.
In short
Seven days is what it takes to reach Run — the island the Dutch traded to the British for Manhattan — because it is sixty to ninety minutes of open boat each way and only goes on a calm day.
- Every other length treats the outer islands as a bonus. This one plans for them.
- Hatta's wall is the best hammerhead ground in the group, Oct–Apr.
- A spare day is built in. On this route it will probably get used.
Day by day
The seven-day plan
Outer-island days sit in the middle on purpose, so there is room either side to move them when the sea says no.
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01
Day 1
Arrive in Banda Neira
Cross from Ambon and settle in. A guesthouse in the colonial quarter runs roughly USD 40–70 a night.
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02
Day 2
Fort Belgica and the town
A guided tour of the fort, the battles it saw and the lives of the early inhabitants, then the craft workshops and the market. A guide runs about USD 10 a head.
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03
Day 3
Diving off Hatta
The outer wall and the clear water that brings divers this far east. Half-day dive packages start around USD 50 including gear.
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04
Day 4
Gunung Api
The pre-dawn trek, always with a local guide who knows the terrain — around USD 30 a person including transport to the base.
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05
Day 5
Nutmeg on Banda Besar
A plantation walk with tastings, and the trade history that made these trees worth a war. Around USD 10 for the tour.
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06
Day 6
Island hopping to Ai and Run
The long boat day: Ai's house reef in the morning, Run in the afternoon if the sea allows. Around USD 40 a person including lunch.
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07
Day 7
Market, then the crossing back
Spices, handicrafts and local snacks before the boat or flight to Ambon.
Day 6 is the one the weather takes. It is placed before the last day precisely so it can move to Day 3 or Day 5 without breaking anything.
The outer islands
What the extra days buy
Pulau Ai
Fort ruins above a house reef that drops away within swimming distance of the beach. The best snorkelling in the group.
Run
The nutmeg island traded for Manhattan. Sixty to ninety minutes out, calm days only, and almost nothing on it has changed.
Banda Besar
The oldest groves on earth and the ruins of Fort Hollandia, ten to fifteen minutes across the Sonegat.
Outer-island days are sea-dependent. In the Jun–Aug monsoon they are the first thing to go, and we will tell you before you book rather than on the morning.
Is a week too long for Banda?
Not if you are diving or if Run matters to you. It is too long if you only want the town and the forts — three days covers that, and five covers it with a boat day.
Will I definitely reach Run?
No, and nobody can promise it. Run is a sixty to ninety minute open crossing and only goes on calm days. Seven days gives you two or three chances at it instead of one, which is the honest version of a guarantee.
What about Manuk?
Manuk, the volcanic islet famous for sea snakes, is reached by liveaboard rather than from a land base. If it is on your list, the diving and liveaboard packages are the right page.
Where do I stay?
Guesthouses in the colonial quarter, roughly USD 40–70 a night for a comfortable room, or a family homestay for less. Room counts on the island are limited, so book once your crossing is confirmed.
Next in this silo
The outer islands in detail
Island hopping
Run, Ai, Hatta and Banda Besar by boat.
5-day itinerary
Adds Banda Besar, Ai and a full day under water.
Diving & liveaboard
Wall dives, the lava flow and hammerhead season.
Itinerary ideas
3D2N, 4D3N and 5D4N shapes compared.
Gunung Api trek
The pre-dawn summit route, and when it is sensible.
Plan your trip
Book the full week
Send your dates and we will place the outer-island day where the forecast gives it the best chance, with a fallback day either side.
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